Clarivate Plc has published a new report from the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) examining how global research collaboration has evolved in response to geopolitical tensions, pandemic disruptions, and strategic national investments.
The report, titled Research collaboration in a changing world, draws on data from the Web of Science Core Collection and InCites to assess key patterns shaping international research networks. It identifies the growing prominence of multilateral partnerships, the expanding global influence of Mainland China, and the strategic pressures now affecting the United States. ISI specialists outline how collaboration between major research economies has shifted, noting that these developments reflect broader structural changes in the global research landscape.
According to the report, universities, funders, and policymakers can use these findings to better navigate an increasingly complex environment. It indicates that the analysis is intended to help the research community build more diverse partnerships, monitor the impact of collaborative work, support emerging economies, and balance security considerations with open scientific exchange so that future decisions remain informed and evidence-based.
The report explains that global collaboration is expanding but remains uneven. It notes that multilateral partnerships are now central to international research activity, contributing to greater diversity and faster discovery. Europe continues to demonstrate strong international connectivity, particularly in Germany and the U.K., where about two-thirds of research output includes foreign partners. At the same time, India and other emerging economies are increasing their participation in international co-authorship, although their collaboration levels still remain below global averages.
The analysis highlights that Mainland China’s rise is reshaping global research networks. Mainland China leads in overall research output and has shown rapid growth across major scientific fields. Its collaborations in the Asia-Pacific region, Africa, and the Middle East are expanding faster than general regional growth. Collaboration with the United States has declined since 2019, while links with the EU27 have strengthened and are on track to surpass U.S. levels.
The report also outlines that the United States faces mounting strategic challenges. It states that U.S. research output and citation impact are declining and that the country’s share of global collaboration is shrinking. Policy restrictions and reduced funding are identified as factors that may increase the risk of isolation, although continued collaboration with Mainland China is helping to sustain the United States’ research output and overall impact.
The analysis emphasizes that collaboration consistently drives higher research impact. It finds that internationally co-authored papers achieve higher citation impact (CNCI), particularly among the United States, the EU27, and Mainland China. It further notes that collaborations between Mainland China and the EU27 now match those between the United States and the EU27 in citation impact, indicating a shift in the distribution of research excellence.
The report concludes that these developments carry significant implications for the global research community. It recommends that universities strengthen their focus on multilateral partnerships and track CNCI trends to better understand the influence of collaborative outputs. It advises funders to recognize the rising importance of emerging economies and to support inclusive, high-impact collaboration models. It also outlines that policymakers should balance national security priorities with the continued need for open scientific exchange, particularly in areas involving critical and emerging technologies.
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